The charming winery of Teresa Deufel is located directly on Lake Constance - a meeting place for locals and visitors
Winemaker Teresa Deufel
A 200-year-old blue and white farmhouse with Lake Constance shimmering in the distance – the picturesque setting of Teresa Deufel’s winery in Lindau. A large tree in the courtyard provides a meeting point forparticipants of wine tastings, occupants of the holiday homes andvisitors to the “Rädlewirtschaft”, as the small winery bars are known around Lake Constance. In this relaxed atmosphere they sit and enjoy regional delicacies and the house wines.
In 1975 Teresa Deufel’s uncle and father founded the vineyard together. At that time wine growing in Lindau had been dormant for many years. The new rail connections to Italy meant that people preferred to buy the more “sophisticated” southern wines.
With "sea wine" and hard work to success
Between the 13th and the 19th century this town on the shores of Lake Constance and its inhabitants were well versed in making wine. Vines grew throughout Lindau – as can be seen from old copperplate engravings. Teresa Deufel’s father and uncle successfully reintroduced the local Lindau “lake wine”. Thanks to the help of numerous workshops they worked their way up from fruit growers to winemakers.
Becoming a winemaker was not always Teresa Deufel’s dream. It was only with the death of her father that she decided to get to know the company business better. She is determined to prove to her critics that even a “girl” can run the business successfully, “even though my father isn’t there to support me, as would be the case in most family businesses.”
Quality without artificial additives
Teresa Deufel still makes the sparkling wine called “Der Summer” using the traditional recipe of her father and uncle. It has now become a well-known and popular brand in Lindau.
But she also not afraid to plough her own furrow. While her predecessors produced as much wine as they could, her focus is on quality. This young winemaker refuses to use weedkiller and instead sows flowers. These attract bees and other beneficial insects.
“This makes our vine slopes look rather wilder, but also more natural,” she comments. With her “back to the roots” approach, she works in a traditional way with wooden barrels and lets the wines ferment naturally, with no additives.
Convivial atmosphere
Teresa Deufel thins out the vines in order to avoid rot, removes leaves to allow light and air to get to the berries, and harvests the selected grapes by hand. Organic viticulture requires a lot of hard work. Guests on wine tasting tours soon realise this when Teresa Deufel shows them what she has to do in the vineyards. It’s quite an eye-opener for many visitors, but quality takes time and effort.
In the courtyard of the winery, happy laughter and lively conversations can be heard into the late evening. “There’s no stress here and people enjoy just sitting and talking,” says Teresa Deufel. Both locals and visitors love coming to her winery. It’s a popular meeting place for “people who enjoy good food and wine and a generally convivial atmosphere. We’ve got style here, but without going over the top.”
More about Teresa's wines at teresadeufel.de (only in German)
... from Teresa
Seebad Lindenhof
In summer, we like to meet friends at the Seebad Lindenhof. It's an old lido from the 1970s. The oldest natural swimming pool we have here! There is a small kiosk there, the "Strandcafé". Sitting comfortably by the lake in the evening for a currywurst and a glass of wine or beer is the perfect way to end the day.
strandcafe-lindenhof.de (only in German)
Restaurant „Haus am See“
The "Haus am See" in Nonnenhorn is the restaurant and hotel of one of my friends, Valentin Knörle. It is beautifully done. And Vali cooks simply fantastic, for example pickled trout with asparagus and lime mayo. Or Lake Constance hake fillet with spinach and mustard foam. The "Haus am See" is a beautiful 19th century carpenter's workshop. In summer, you eat in the garden, with a magnificent view of Lake Constance. If you can't tear yourself away afterwards: Down on the beach there is a casual little sitting area with a fire bowl. And sometimes music. Valentin also likes to play music himself.
hausamsee-nonnenhorn.de (only in German)
Steamboat trip on Lake Constance
A boat trip on Lake Constance is a must, especially with the old steamer "Hohentwiel". The trip is an experience and from the ship you have a great view of the "Bavarian Riviera".
hs-bodensee.eu
Fun for kids
On the river Argen, children can play wonderfully in and around the water, as it is very shallow in parts. The treetop path in Scheidegg in the Allgäu is also a great experience: a circular path takes you right to the top of the trees.
skywalk-allgaeu.de (only in German)
Scheidegg Waterfalls
The "Scheidegger Wasserfälle" are among the hundred most beautiful biotopes in Bavaria. For families with children, there is also a petting zoo and a water playground.
scheidegg.de
